Food: A friend that's local to DTLA brought us to this hole in a wall in Chinatown for some classic Hainan chicken. I like how traditional it is no added frills and taste very much like something grandma would make. My Wife is Chinese and the flavors are all there. Price: It is on the pricier side for the portion and the dish itself. But everything in old Chinatown is becoming more expensive so understandable. Service: Staff was super friendly and definitely takes the time to get to know the locals. Ambiance: Definitely a casual lunch spot I have only gone on the weekends and I was told they often sell out of the Hainan chicken.
H. X.
Incredible experience. Cool decor that is very relatable as an Asian millenial who grew up in California. Worth making the trek to catch them while they are open. Best Hainan chicken I've had in the US. Tender, flavorful. Sensational 口感. The special they had the weekend I ate, their take on the Malaysian dish, Nasi Lemak, was phenomenal with well balanced flavors. The garlic rice is top notch. Johnny is a National Treasure.Kid-friendliness: Chill with toddlers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hainan Chicken Rice Plate
Steph P.
So fun to experience as a large group. Pretty much ordered the entire menu and enjoyed every dish, of course, some more than others, but there wasn't a single bad dish. Highlights were the pork bun for me and oxtail soup for RR. Will go back!
Frank G.
Small spot. Spectacular food. Menu is small, but everything on it delicious. Worth trying if your a fan of Hunan Chicken.
Erik L.
That was some good fried Hainan chicken. Easily some of the best I've had. The only other place I think is comparable is Banana Bay's. Pearl River's is juicy and the batter is thin but still crunchy. It also has this doughnutey aromatic to it which caught me off guard in a pleasant way. The rice was flavorful and their soup which I recommend getting was savory and warming. Staff was very nice. Great spot. Cool movie posters on the wall. Definitely returning. I wish their hours were more expansive though. You have to go during their limited window.
Connie C.
As sad as I was learning that they no longer carry the Macau pineapple bun, I was extremely impressed with their Charsiu. My friends and I shared a plate of Charsiu over rice and a plate of Hainan chicken rice. Both dishes were amazing, so delicious and well executed, to the point where I kinda want to keep both plates to myself or just go and order some more rice. The charsiu had the right lean-fat ratios, it was so tender, so juicy, the only thing that was missing from the normal charsiu was that super red color and I don't miss it a single bit. Rice wasn't the regular white rice a bit of the sauce over it, it was the same rice used for Hainan chicken with the fragrance of garlic. I had very low expectations of the Hainan chicken, especially since I get a decent plug up in the bay, but PRD's was amazing! The meat was cold poached, got a lot of flavor and the pieces were juicy. When they say they're boneless, they're definitely boneless, not a single shard. That onion/ginger sauce was very fresh and wasn't too salty. I can put that over plain rice and eat it all day. The shop was slightly hard to find, it wasn't on the main street in LA Chinatown, and if you see this building with a Thank You Coffee on the side, go towards the center to get to the back of the building. I guess there's a line on weekdays, but there was none on weekends, so a bit harder to identify. There are some communal tables inside, you order and seat yourself, utensils and water are off to the side. They bring you the food when it's ready. The shop has all these cool movie posters all around, some are Asian movies, some are Hollywood but the Chinese version of the promo poster. Definitely got that modern Asian American vibe going on but got those classic dishes down!
Ethan L.
The food is good, but not the best, speaking as a Cantonese person. The food is way too expensive (2x of the ordinary price) of let's say Hainan Chicken Rice. The menu is very limited and the serving portion could have been bigger for this price.
Sergio L Y.
Definitely one of the best places to eat in Chinatown LA. Although they only have limited menu, and only opened 4 days a week, every dish is solid and tasty. As far as tipping goes, this is a self serve fast casual restaurant, you get your own utensils and bus your own table after you eat, not sure if 20%, 25% or 30% is appropriate.
One of the best culinary pairings from many cuisines is the humble chicken and rice. This pairing known in Asian cuisine is popularly known as Hainan Chicken. Pearl River Deli has been able to deliver one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes to Chinatown again.The star of the show at PRD is Hainan Chicken and Rice. Two factors that make perfection are the silky moist chicken breast paired with seasoned rice cooked with garlic, chicken broth, and chicken fat. This true masterpiece of chicken-on-chicken action is just heavenly. It may not be fair to compare PRD to Savoy, which once honored Chinatown with its presence on Spring Street. A sense of homage would be fair, but my hat is tipped to PRD for perfecting the art.Another key item is the Fried Hainan Chicken, but please make note this is a completely different dish and delicious in its perfection. The BBQ Pork has a delectable balance of fat and lean meat slightly sweet and roasted to perfection.Only open Friday through Sunday, PRD's limited menu strives to deliver the best. Unfortunately, the best has a higher than usual price with time and scratch, and if you do have the itch for one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes in Southern California I know where to find the relief.
Amazing food. Simple menu and so yummy. go with a few people and get one plate of each, chicken, fried chx and Char su. soooo worth it!
Patrick W.
There is very little to add to what others have said. I'll just say I have a Canto background, my family has made Hainanese CK rice my whole life... I know the techniques... and this place nails it as well. The poach, the green onion ginger dip, the oily rice... all there. It's a no nonsense hole in the wall... and that's the way it should be. Worth a try...
James W.
One of the best culinary pairings from many cuisines is the humble chicken and rice. This pairing known in Asian cuisine is popularly known as Hainan Chicken. Pearl River Deli has been able to deliver one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes to Chinatown again. The star of the show at PRD is Hainan Chicken and Rice. Two factors that make perfection are the silky moist chicken breast paired with seasoned rice cooked with garlic, chicken broth, and chicken fat. This true masterpiece of chicken-on-chicken action is just heavenly. It may not be fair to compare PRD to Savoy, which once honored Chinatown with its presence on Spring Street. A sense of homage would be fair, but my hat is tipped to PRD for perfecting the art. Another key item is the Fried Hainan Chicken, but please make note this is a completely different dish and delicious in its perfection. The BBQ Pork has a delectable balance of fat and lean meat slightly sweet and roasted to perfection. Only open Friday through Sunday, PRD's limited menu strives to deliver the best. Unfortunately, the best has a higher than usual price with time and scratch, and if you do have the itch for one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes in Southern California I know where to find the relief.
Jessica C.
Went this past weekend for lunch and luckily there was no line. We tried both renditions of their chicken Hainan, the traditional and fried. The traditional version was very tender and moist. The fried version was really unique and something I would come back for, very crispy and juicy. I was a little disappointed the rice was dry and kind of cold, but still very flavorful.
Johnny and his staff deliver every single time. I keep coming back, simply because it is that good, the charsiu and the hainan chicken are my persona
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Char Siu Plate, Macau Pork Chop Bun, Hainan Chicken
Hainan chicken spanking good but no complementary
Food: 5
Food: A friend that's local to DTLA brought us to this hole in a wall in Chinatown for some classic Hainan chicken. I like how traditional it is no added frills and taste very much like something grandma would make. My Wife is Chinese and the flavors are all there. Price: It is on the pricier side for the portion and the dish itself. But everything in old Chinatown is becoming more expensive so understandable. Service: Staff was super friendly and definitely takes the time to get to know the locals. Ambiance: Definitely a casual lunch spot I have only gone on the weekends and I was told they often sell out of the Hainan chicken.
Incredible experience. Cool decor that is very relatable as an Asian millenial who grew up in California. Worth making the trek to catch them while they are open. Best Hainan chicken I've had in the US. Tender, flavorful. Sensational 口感. The special they had the weekend I ate, their take on the Malaysian dish, Nasi Lemak, was phenomenal with well balanced flavors. The garlic rice is top notch. Johnny is a National Treasure.Kid-friendliness: Chill with toddlers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hainan Chicken Rice Plate
So fun to experience as a large group. Pretty much ordered the entire menu and enjoyed every dish, of course, some more than others, but there wasn't a single bad dish. Highlights were the pork bun for me and oxtail soup for RR. Will go back!
Small spot. Spectacular food. Menu is small, but everything on it delicious. Worth trying if your a fan of Hunan Chicken.
That was some good fried Hainan chicken. Easily some of the best I've had. The only other place I think is comparable is Banana Bay's. Pearl River's is juicy and the batter is thin but still crunchy. It also has this doughnutey aromatic to it which caught me off guard in a pleasant way. The rice was flavorful and their soup which I recommend getting was savory and warming. Staff was very nice. Great spot. Cool movie posters on the wall. Definitely returning. I wish their hours were more expansive though. You have to go during their limited window.
As sad as I was learning that they no longer carry the Macau pineapple bun, I was extremely impressed with their Charsiu. My friends and I shared a plate of Charsiu over rice and a plate of Hainan chicken rice. Both dishes were amazing, so delicious and well executed, to the point where I kinda want to keep both plates to myself or just go and order some more rice. The charsiu had the right lean-fat ratios, it was so tender, so juicy, the only thing that was missing from the normal charsiu was that super red color and I don't miss it a single bit. Rice wasn't the regular white rice a bit of the sauce over it, it was the same rice used for Hainan chicken with the fragrance of garlic. I had very low expectations of the Hainan chicken, especially since I get a decent plug up in the bay, but PRD's was amazing! The meat was cold poached, got a lot of flavor and the pieces were juicy. When they say they're boneless, they're definitely boneless, not a single shard. That onion/ginger sauce was very fresh and wasn't too salty. I can put that over plain rice and eat it all day. The shop was slightly hard to find, it wasn't on the main street in LA Chinatown, and if you see this building with a Thank You Coffee on the side, go towards the center to get to the back of the building. I guess there's a line on weekdays, but there was none on weekends, so a bit harder to identify. There are some communal tables inside, you order and seat yourself, utensils and water are off to the side. They bring you the food when it's ready. The shop has all these cool movie posters all around, some are Asian movies, some are Hollywood but the Chinese version of the promo poster. Definitely got that modern Asian American vibe going on but got those classic dishes down!
The food is good, but not the best, speaking as a Cantonese person. The food is way too expensive (2x of the ordinary price) of let's say Hainan Chicken Rice. The menu is very limited and the serving portion could have been bigger for this price.
Definitely one of the best places to eat in Chinatown LA. Although they only have limited menu, and only opened 4 days a week, every dish is solid and tasty. As far as tipping goes, this is a self serve fast casual restaurant, you get your own utensils and bus your own table after you eat, not sure if 20%, 25% or 30% is appropriate.
Restaurantji Recommends
One of the best culinary pairings from many cuisines is the humble chicken and rice. This pairing known in Asian cuisine is popularly known as Hainan Chicken. Pearl River Deli has been able to deliver one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes to Chinatown again.The star of the show at PRD is Hainan Chicken and Rice. Two factors that make perfection are the silky moist chicken breast paired with seasoned rice cooked with garlic, chicken broth, and chicken fat. This true masterpiece of chicken-on-chicken action is just heavenly. It may not be fair to compare PRD to Savoy, which once honored Chinatown with its presence on Spring Street. A sense of homage would be fair, but my hat is tipped to PRD for perfecting the art.Another key item is the Fried Hainan Chicken, but please make note this is a completely different dish and delicious in its perfection. The BBQ Pork has a delectable balance of fat and lean meat slightly sweet and roasted to perfection.Only open Friday through Sunday, PRD's limited menu strives to deliver the best. Unfortunately, the best has a higher than usual price with time and scratch, and if you do have the itch for one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes in Southern California I know where to find the relief.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Char Siu Plate, Hainan Chicken, Hainan Chicken Rice Plate, Hainan Chicken Saturday Sunday Only
Amazing food. Simple menu and so yummy. go with a few people and get one plate of each, chicken, fried chx and Char su. soooo worth it!
There is very little to add to what others have said. I'll just say I have a Canto background, my family has made Hainanese CK rice my whole life... I know the techniques... and this place nails it as well. The poach, the green onion ginger dip, the oily rice... all there. It's a no nonsense hole in the wall... and that's the way it should be. Worth a try...
One of the best culinary pairings from many cuisines is the humble chicken and rice. This pairing known in Asian cuisine is popularly known as Hainan Chicken. Pearl River Deli has been able to deliver one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes to Chinatown again. The star of the show at PRD is Hainan Chicken and Rice. Two factors that make perfection are the silky moist chicken breast paired with seasoned rice cooked with garlic, chicken broth, and chicken fat. This true masterpiece of chicken-on-chicken action is just heavenly. It may not be fair to compare PRD to Savoy, which once honored Chinatown with its presence on Spring Street. A sense of homage would be fair, but my hat is tipped to PRD for perfecting the art. Another key item is the Fried Hainan Chicken, but please make note this is a completely different dish and delicious in its perfection. The BBQ Pork has a delectable balance of fat and lean meat slightly sweet and roasted to perfection. Only open Friday through Sunday, PRD's limited menu strives to deliver the best. Unfortunately, the best has a higher than usual price with time and scratch, and if you do have the itch for one of the best Hainan Chicken dishes in Southern California I know where to find the relief.
Went this past weekend for lunch and luckily there was no line. We tried both renditions of their chicken Hainan, the traditional and fried. The traditional version was very tender and moist. The fried version was really unique and something I would come back for, very crispy and juicy. I was a little disappointed the rice was dry and kind of cold, but still very flavorful.